System for exhibiting sound motion pictures



Oct. 10, 1933.

O. A. ROSS SYSTEM FR EXHIBITING SOUND MOTION PICTURES 2 Shams-Sheet 1y f'am r Filed March 4, 1927 TZ-ffl y DR Ta ,10M col n o n o ooloo Oct. 10, 1933. o. A. Ross SYSTEM FOR EXHIBITING SOUND MOTION PICTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4. 1927 v INVENTOR l ,wt

Patented Oct. 10, 19334 UNITED STATES SY-STEIQI FOB EXHIBITING SOUND MOTION PICTURES Oscar A.. Boss, New York, N. Y. I Application Mar-chl, 1927. Serial No. 172,756

30 Claims.

The invention relates to the synchronized production of motion pictures and the incidental music associated therewith, and has for its more prominent object the production of a more simple, economical and eicient system for the purposedescribed.

In arranging musical programs for motion picture exhibitions, it is customary to change the character of the music for each change of scene if such change is warranted, as for example a change from drama to comedy. Motion picture scenes of either the drama or comedy type are generally displayed for short periods of time, interposed between which are suitable ltitles announcing each scene. f I

It is customary for the orchestra director, or

.accompanying musician to pre-run the reels to V l be exhibited whereby he may select the incidental musc best suited for the scene, or series of scenes,

are short, it is also customary to improvise, or

fade away the end of the music at the end of a scene when it is necessary to change the character of the music for the next scene, as for example, a change from drama vto comedy. It is also customary for the orchestra, or musician to .make extraordinary sounds during the regular rendering of the music, as Ior example, the ringing of a telephone bell, blowing of a whistle, beating otadrum, etc. y

The employment of an'orchestra, or musician of talent as accompanyist to a motion picture exhibition, entails more or less expense, and, in the instance of small theaters is often the factor Y determining the profiter loss of the institution.

y Systems for the synchronizing of motion pietures with music and the speaking voice have been heretofore employed.A One system imprints photographcally the incidental music onto the same film as appear the motion pictures. Ii' the lm becomes broken, a` commonA occurrence, and a section is cut out for thepurpose of' making a splice, a break in the continuity of the, music occurs simultaneously with the break in the continuity of the motion picture making a doubly bad impression on the minds of the spectators in the audience thereby detractingtrom the value of the performance..

`Another system employs a separate nlm on which the incidental music is imprinted for reproducton and which illm is run synchronously with the motion picture nlm. It the music' lxn breaks, and a section cut out for the purpose of splicing, it is also necessary to arbitrarily cut y through the control apparatus.

the motion picture at the same relative point ,and remove vthe same amount of lm whereby.

both music iilm and motion picture film may again be synchronized. Even after this patching operation of both films, the system is open tothe same additional objections as the hereintofore described system, in that there willbe an undesirable break in the continuity of both the music and motion pictures.

Still another system employs a phonographic 65 record, the movement of which is synchronized with the movement oi the motion picture lm. It for any reason the lm breaks, it is necessary to insert a patch of suillcient length to restore the nlm to its original length whereby synchronize.- 7a tion` of the 'music and the motion picture may obtain. vSuch a patch unless matched with the original hlm will produce opaque or blurred periods during the regular projection of the nlm in addition to a break in the continuity of the scene. 76j It has the further objection that two splices are 4 required where ordinarily one will suillca. y

One of the prime objects of this invention is to furnish a system for producing accompanying incidental music, or sounds during almotion pic- '8o ture exhibition without the employment of musicians, or a musical director, the music, or sounds so produced being substantially in eiect the same as if produced by an orchestra, or fsolo musician. For the purposes ot brevity this improved system v will hereinafter be termed auto-illmv indicating the automatic control of self-playing musical instruments by the movement of the motion picture :construction o! the nlm or change of the standardized exposed areas as ordinarily employed on motion picture lms.

Another object of the auto-nlm is. tovfurnish acontrol apparatus adapted to be associated with a motion picture nlm, as a compact unit which may be attached to standardA projection machines in a comparatively short space o f time and which will v operate to control self-playing musical instruy ments without interfering with the normal operau tion of said machines.

Another object of the auto-film is to furnish l means for preventing the simultaneous operation y of more than one instrument, or erroneous sequential operation of instruments due to unusual irregularities or abraslons of the nlm as it l:

Another object ,of the auto-111m is to furnish a system wherein a motion picture manager or ownerl may employ any one, or more selected types of self-playing instruments as might be best suited to his audience, or the peculiar construction ot the theater.

Another. object of the auto-nlm is to furnish a system wherein the projection machine operator, or projectionist may manually control the selfplaying instruments independently, or co-acting with the auto-nlm control apparatus, such manual control being adjacent the projection machine, whereasv the self-playing instruments may be remote therefrom.

Another object of the auto-film is to furnish a system wherein, films produced prior to the e'm ployment of the auto-111m, may, in a simple manner, be treated whereby they may be employed to automatically control self-playing instruments when associated with a control unit of the autofilm system.

Another object'of the auto-film is to furnish means whereby breaks in the continuity o1' the motion pictures resulting from cuts in the film, will not cause breaks in the continuity of the incidental music automatically controlled by the movement of the illm. By this novel arrangement, bad breaks in the continuity of the motion picture will be smoothed over by the continuous ilow oi music during the break.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the.invention progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

This inventioncon'sists in the novel construction and arrangement oi parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawings. and particularly pointed out in that portion oi the instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain and peculiar features of the invention, it being understood that, within the 'scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed, divers changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the system may be made without departing from the spirit of, or sacrificing any of the details of the invention.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated embodiments of my invention,

, and wherein like characters of reference designate view taken on line B-B of Fig. 2, and, Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view taken on line C-C of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an elevated view ot a part of the control unit taken on line D--D of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a part diagrammatic, part circuit plan of the self-playing instruments and their local control circuits, and Fig. 7 is a part diagrammatic, part circuit plan of a two roll self-playing combined organ and`piano and its local control circuits, and, Fig. 8 is also a part diagrammatic, part circuit plan of a telephone bell ringing unit with its local control circuits, and, Fig. 9 is a complete circuit plan ot one form of the system, and Fig. 10

Y is an elevated view of a modiiled form of control lunitl employing'photo-electric cells, and is taken on line E-E of Fig. 11, and Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the same control unit taken on line F-F of Fig. 10, and, Fig. 12 is a section of motion picture lm showing the control stations associated with the control unit shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a well known motion picture projector to which the auto-film system has been adapted.

Film 1 is assumed to be in process of exhibition in projector 56, (Fig. 13) and to be of length covering two part scenes, two full scenes and three titles, its movement being in the direction of arrow X. The part scene indicated by the section CO represents comedy, the section- T1 a title for the succeeding drama scene DR, followed by the title T2 for the succeeding comedy scene CO2 which in turn is followed by the title T3 for the succeeding wedding scene WM. The lines H to N inclusive indicate the longitudinal center lines of the control stations 10H to 10N inclusive and the letters H to N inclusive are employed throughout the several views to indicate the control apparatus, circuits and instruments associated therewith.

Control unit 2, suitably mounted in control box 3, (Fig. 13) comprises block 2a, preferably of insulating material, having groove 4 adapted to receive film 1, tension plate 5, retained by springs 6--6 serving to hold said lm in the groove in semi-air-tight relation to chambers 11H to 11N inclusive, a substantially complete air-tight relation being obtained by a partial vacuum furnished by pipe 7 communicating by canal 8 to the several chambers 11H to 11N inclusive within tubular metal members 12H to 12N inclusive containing valves 13H to 13N inclusive normally pressed upward by springs 14H to 14N inclusive, collars 151 to 15N inclusive serving as combined stops and valves against leakage of air to the lower ends of chambers 11H to 11N inclusive, bushings 16H to 16N inclusive acting to form a seat and also a plug for said lower ends.

The tubular members 121 to 12M inclusive are electrically connected together by the conductor 17. Member 12N has a separate conductor 18.

Mounted on extension 2b of 'block 2a are electrical terminals 191 to 19N inclusive adapted to co-act with the lower ends of valves 131 to 13N inclusive.

At the lower end of valve 13H is secured contact spring 20, normally bridging the contacts 21--21a, this being the only valve 13 so constructed.

Referring to Fig. 6, the self-playing instrument 25I which is Yassumed to be a late model phonograph of the orthophonic" type to which certain improvements have been attached for fulfillment of certain purposes of this invention, and which is assumed to be rendering orchestral music of a `dramatic character, the opening or music outlet 26 is adapted to be closed by a damper, or swell 27 pivoted at 27a and operated by lever 28 having counter-weight 29 and one end of link 30 pivoted thereto,.the other end of link 30 being pivotally secured to rod 31, the lower end of which terminates in dash-pot plunger 32, and the upper end thereto, the upper end of which is pivoted to lever.

351 and the lower end guided in bearing 41,

spring 4lattached to stop collar 42 serving to restrain said rod in an'upward direction.

Referring to Fig. 7, the self-playing combined piano and organ 45 comprises in part music rolls 46 and 47 one of which may contain comedy and the other dramatic selections of music, the motor or switch 48 controlling roll 46 and the motor or switch 49 controlling roll 47. In this instrument the damper, or swell, as 27 has been omitted for purpose of clearer illustration, it is however pref-- erably attached thereto. l

Referring to Figs 8, representing an instrument for producing the imitation of the ringing of a telephone bell,'unit 50 is a telephone ringer of well known construction supplied by energy by contact 51 controlled by magnet 52 connected to dash-pot 53, the piston of which is adapted to rise quickly under action of magnet 52 but restrained to slow movement as it lowers whereby mounted in a housing of a unit as 3, is driven in synchronism with movement of the film in a projector, as 56, and hasv standard motion picture sprocket teeth, as 58 adapted to guide lm 59, the idle rollers 60-60 serving to hold said film in contact with a portion of the periphery 61 of drum 55. Extending from the periphery 61 to the interior' of drum 55 are slots 62-62, through which llight from lamp 63 may pass to the enshrouded portion of the lm 59.

A control'unit, as 65, similar in function as unit 2, but differing in that the valves 13, springs 14 and contacts' 19 are replaced by photo-electric cells as 66H to 66N inclusive and adapted to be affected if light from lamp 63 is permitted to pass from slot 462 through the film to any one of the cells, as might be the case if a'station as, 67, 68 or 69 in film 59; (Fig. 12), Were Opposite the slot 62, such stations being transparent areas through which light may pass freely.

The operation of the system is as follows; re ferring to Fig. 1, it is assumed that the perforation, or control station 101 of title T1 is directly over chamber 111 of unit 2. The partial vacuum in chamber 111 above valve 131 is therefore annulled and the partial vacuum. below the valve moves it downward until its lower end con'- tacts with the contact spring 191 whereupon the following circuit is established:-

Pick-up circuit contact 361 is closed and contact 371 opened. As

contact 361 closes, energy to magnet 341 is sup- Stick circuit closed push button 88H, wire 80, contact 21a,

' contact spring 20, contact 21, wire 81, wire 821Y contact lever 361, wire 831to magnet pick-up contact 371.

. ing it to cease rendering of music. From positive energy, wire 78 (Fig. 9) normally With the foregoing circuit established, mag-V net 341 remains energized after valve 131 hasmoved upward to its normal position, and which will happen after perforation 101 of title T1 passes beyond the top opening of chamber 111 and said chamber has again become sealed by film 1. As this operation takes place the air in the upper chamber will gradually leak past valve 131 to the lower chamber whereupon the partial vacu-1 um will be equalized on each side of said valve and it moves to, and remains in its normal position. Further, with this circuit established, any irregular operation of valves 13.1 to 13N inclusive, due to any abrasions or irregularities of the film during its movement through'the scene DR, cannot cause operation of any instrument, 25J to 25N inclusive while the instrument 251 is in operation.

As the film 1 continues to further move to the right and scene DR is being exhibited, the instrument 251 will produce music of a dramatic quality. 1f the instrument is a phonograph, a suitable record may have been placed thereon for the particular scene exhibited. Assume further that after starting the scene, an actor in the motion picture is called to a telephone, at the psychor logical moment the opening 10N moves over chamber 11N and valve 13N is moved downward ,establishing a circuit as follows:-

Telephone bell ringing'circuit From positive energy to wire 85, (see Fig. 9) bar 18, contact spring 19N, wire 86, wife 87 to unit 50, (see Fig. 6) and thence through magnet 52 to ground. As long as spring 54 retains contact 51 closed against the retarded movement of dash-pot 53, the bell will,continue ringing. If it is desired to manually perform this operation, the push button 88N is depressedomanually establishing a circuit from positive energy to. wire 115 89, push button 88N, wires 90 and 87 to unit 50. 1t is to be noted that the unit 50 is operated while the music from the instrument 251 continues without interruption. Unit 50 may be of a.v type whereby a drum beat, whistle, or other sounds of short duration are produced at psychological moments during a motion picture exhibition. Obviously a plurality of such units may be employed each differing in the character of sound produced. A12:5

As film 1 continues to move to the right and 'scene DR is drawn to a close, the perforation 10H therein registers with chamber 11H, and valve 13I1is drawn downward causing contact spring 2 0 to leave contacts 21 and 21a, in this manner opening the stickcircuit, whereupon magnet 341 is de-energized and armature 331 willfall opening stick contact 361, and closing The first portion of this movement is substantially rapid as the air escapes through opening 91 of dash-pot 92. Thereafter armature 331 moves downward slowly and damper 27 gradually covers opening 26. The time interval for this operation however, is' preferably only a matter oi seconds. As damper 27140 moves to its final prsition, the outer end of lever 28 contacts with stop 42 and forces rod 39 and contact lover 351 downward, in this manner opening the cncuit to instrument 251 and caus- As the' damper,vor swell 27 closes the musical outlet 26, the music is made to appear as fading out. For this reason -it will not be inappropriate to stop operation of instrument 251 in the middle of a selection as may often be required if many short and varied scenes form part of the exhibition.

It will be further noted that the instrument as 251 iscaused to continue operation until after the opening 26 has been entirely closed by damper or swell 27. In this manner the rasping of a phonograph needle, if such, is employed, will not be heard as the instrument ceases operation, nor will any other undue noise incident to the slowing down and stopping of a musical instrument employed as a substitute for instrument 251, be noticed.

As the film 1, moves further to the right and title T2 has been exhibited, the opening 10J, will register with the chamber llJ causing Valve 13J to lower and establish the pick-up to instrument 25J and in the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with instrument 251. 1t will be noted that when instrument magnet 341 became de-energized, the contact lever 371 partially completed the pick-up" circuit whereby contact between the valve 13J and contact spring 19J completed the pick-up circuit to actuate magnet 34J of instrument 25J. As the scene CO2 is assumed to be of a comedy character, the instrument 25J is assumed to be rendering music of a light character.

Further movement of film l to the right, causes opening 10H of title T3 to register with chamber '11H and the stick circuit is again opened in the same manner as hereinbefore described, and a fade away of the music from instrument 25J is accomplished.

As film l continues to move to the right, the opening 10M will register with the chamber 11M of unit 2 and a pick-up circuit will be established to the instrument 25M, not shown, but which however, may be similar to instruments 251 and'25J. The musicproduced however will be a wedding march as the scene WM is assumed to be one exhibiting a nuptial situation.

If for any reason it is desired to operate the instruments 251 to 25M inclusive independently of the film 1, any one of said instruments may be so operated from remote control panel 97 containing push buttcns 88H to 88N inclusive 4arranged for manual manipulation. The manually controlled push buttons 88H to 88N inclusive may also be operated in conjunction with the control stations 10H to 10N inclusive on film 1.

Depressing of button 881 establishes the pickup circuit to the magnet 341 of instrument 251 by the shunt circuit comprising wire 951, push button 881, and wire 981. It will be noted that this circuit shunts the opening between the valve 131 and contact spring 191 and that therefore the pick-up circuit to the magnet 341 will be established inthe same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with the energizing-of said magnet when valve 131 was caused to contact with the contact spring 191.

To release any of the stic circuits resulting from forming of the pick-up circuits, the normally closed push button 88H is depressed resulting in the opening of the stickcircuit in the same manner as if it had been opened by the contact spring 20 of valve 13H when controlled by the station 10H. Thereafter any other push button 88J, 88K, 88L, 88M, or 88N may be depressed as may be selected for the particular scene being exhibited.

The push button 97 is'preferably attached to, or placed adjacent the projector',` as 56 making the exhibition. 'If desired duplicate panels, as 97, may be installed in the orchestra pit, or other part of the theatre. In such instances all the buttons 881 to 88N inclusive will be electrically connected in parallel whereas all the 88H buttons will be electrically connected in series.

As an example for the use of panel 97; a reel of film may be received from an exchange without the control perforations, as 10H to 10N inclusive,

and whereas the theatre may have suitable apparatus to install these perforations, the reels may have been received too late for making a pre-run for determining the perforations. Un-

der such circumstances the projectionist may supplyl the incidental music by means of the buttons on control panel 97 as hereinbefore described.

1n Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the unit 2 and component parts are shown enlarged for the purpose of clearer illustration.

If desired the control of instruments 251 to 25N inclusive may be obtained by a control unit as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, wherein the tubular members 11H to 11N inclusive are replaced by photo-electric cells, as 66H to 66N inclusive. control stations 67, 68 and 69 consist of transparent areas through which light from lamp 63 may freely pass, however only such light as escapes through slots 62 is available. This slot is preferably narrower in width than ,the blank strip 98-98 extending transversely between two adjacent frames of a standard motion picture 111m as 59.'` Furthermore as a result of regular printing on positive films this strip 98 is always decidedly opaque, therefore to prepare control stations as 67, 68, or 69 the opaque emulsion is removed whereby transparent areas are obtained. This refers to old films, or those prepared before control points were required. The preferable man- The.

69, consists in placing opaque areas of the same Arelative size and location on the negative film whereby the transparent areas will obtain in the regular printing out of the positive lm.

As a control station, as 67, 68, or 89, registers with its relative photo-electric cell in unit 65, the rays of light passing through said station from lamp 63 so affects said cell that the energy passing therethrough will be varied sufficiently to effect the operation of the musical instrument controlled thereby, as for example, a unit comprising the instrument 251 and local control apparatus associated therewith, much in the same manner as if it were controlled from the control unit 2 of Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

In placing the film, as 59, onto the drum 55, it is necessary to have the transverse areas 98-98 register with the slots 62-62 therein.

As no particularly great speed is required by the action of the photo-electric cells, as 661 to 66N inclusive, they may be of the selenium type. Furthermore the circuit through each cell may be relayed through an independent circuit closer, the contacts of which will control the magnets 34 independently of the photo-electric cell.

Referring to Fig. 13, projector 56 has the usual upper, or feed magazine 99, from which film 100 is fed to a control unit, as 2, or one of modified form as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, therefore passing to the mechanism box 103 and thence to the take up magazine 101. Cable 102 comprises the wires, or conductors communicating to unit 2 from the several instruments, as 251 to 25N inelusive and the push button panel 97.

'I'he unit 3 is preferably constructed in a manner whereby it may be inserted between the feed magazine99 and the mechanism box 103 in a simple manner and without interfering with the normal operation of projector 56.

A suitable vacuum pump, not shown, and driven by the motor of the projector, as 56, is supplied for creating the partial vacuum in tube 7, canal 8 and chambers 11H to 11N inclusive. y

The resistance 72 in the pick-up circuit, is preferably such that if two, or more circuits are simultaneously closed to magnets, as 341 to 34Nk inclusive, the divided energy supplied through said resistance will not be sufficient to each magnet to effect its normal operation. However under normal operation of one magnet, as 341, the energy passing through said resistance will be suflicient to effect emcient operation, even under conditions of sub-normal voltage. By this novel arrangement, a splice, or irregularity of the moving -film which might admit air to two, or more chambers, as 111 to 11N inclusive can not cause the simultaneous and unwarranted operation of twoor more of the musical instruments, as 251 to 25N inclusive.

It will also be noted that by opening the pick-up circuit by any one of the contact levers, as 371 to 37N inclusive when an instrument is placed `in operation, any subsequent establishing of pick-up circuits to any one or more, independently o simultaneously, of the instruments will be ineffective to operate said instrument, or instruments, in this manner preventing false, or unwarranted operation thereof due to irregularities of the lm as they pass through control unit 2. v

Referring to Fig. '7, the musical instrument may be of any well known make having a multiple of music rolls, as for example the instrument known as the Reproduco, and to which the motors, or control switches 48 and 49 and their control magnets 34P and 34U and their circuits have been added. This instrument may be substituted for the instruments 25K-and 251. if desired.

. 1n addition to the fade-away of the music subsequent to the opening of a circuit to an instrument as 251, as hereintofore described, a fade-in eiect is obtained when the pick-up circuit is established to an instrument, as, 241,

f in the following manner; the ,first portion of the upward movement of rod 31, permits contact lever 351, through action of link 39 and spring 41, to immediately close, thereby supplying energy from wire 105 through said lever to wire 106, and thence through said instrument to wire 107 returning to negative energy. The dash-pot 92 is preferably so arranged whereby an instrument, as 251, will accelerate to normal speed before the damper 27 begins to open the musical outlet i 26. By this novel arrangement a fade-in effect Bil` 251is called into action'.- It is obvious therefore of the music is obtained when an instrument, as

' that an instrument, as 251, may be started in the middle of ay musical selection with the same .pleasing effect as if it had been rendered in regular order.

.What I claim is:-`

1. SoundA motion picture exhibition apparatus comprising, means for advancing motion picture film, means associated therewith for effecting exhibition of the motion pictures recorded onto the film during the advancement thereof, sound 'producing means arranged to effect reproduction of recorded sound to the accompaniment of the exhibited pictures, means for rendering the sound producing means effective to produce sound, and means affected by the advancement of the film for fading the produced sound at predetermined and variable intervals as the film is advanced.

2. Sound-motion picture apparatus comprising,la motion picture film having a series of distinct action sequences recorded thereon, projection means arranged to advance the film for successively exhibiting the action sequences during a sound motion picture exhibition, sound producing means associated with the apparatus ar- J ranged to produce sound correlated tothe action sequences during the exhibition thereof, and.

sound volume control means responsive to predetermined advancement of the fllm by the projection means arranged to fade in the sound producedl as the action sequences are initially exhibitedand fade out the sound produced upon the ending of the exhibition thereof.

3. Sound motion picture apparatus comprising, a record member having a series of distinct action sequences recorded successively thereon,

means for advancing the record member for duced upon the ending of the exhibition thereof.

4. The combination with sound motion picture apparatus arranged to advance motion picture film, of means associated with the apparatus for producing a series of distinct motion picture action sequences, sound producing means associated with the apparatus for producing a series of sound sequences co-extensively with the production of the action sequences, and means responsive to predetermined advancement of the film by the apparatus for fading in the sound produced during the beginning of the production of a correlated action sequence and fading out the sound produced at the ending of the productionof the action sequence.l

5. The combination with sound motion picture apparatus arranged to advance motion picture film, of means associated with the apparatus arranged to produce a'series of distinct motion picture action sequences, sound producing means for producing sound simultaneously with the production of the action sequences by the action sequence producing means, and means responsive to predetermined advancement of the lm by the apparatus for fading in the sound produced during the beginning of the production of each action sequence and fading out the sound sequence at the ending of the production the exhibited scenes, control means responsive to 150 Y predetermined advancement of, the film by the projection apparatus, the control means vincluding means for selectively rendering the sound producing instrumentalities operative to produce sound to .the accompaniment of the exhibited scenes and means arranged to fade in the sound as a sound sequence is initially produced by a selected instrumentality and fade out the sound during the termination oi.' the sequence.

'1. The system for exhibiting sound motion pictures comprising, motion picture illm having a plurality o! successively differing motion picture scenes recorded thereon, motion picture apparatus arranged to advance the lm for exhibiting the scenes successively during a sound motion picture exhibition, sound producing appratus arranged to produce successive sequences of sound for accompaniment to the successively exhibited scenes, and control apparatus responsive to predetermined advancement of the iilm by the exhibition apparatus, the control apparatus including means for rendering the sound producing apparatus eiective to produce a-sequence of sound simultaneously with the exhibition of a correlated scene and means for fading in the sound sequence as the scene correlated thereto is initially exhibited .and fading out the sound sequence upon the termination of the exhibition l thereof.

8. The system for transmitting energy impulses comprising, a rotatively supported 'cylindrical member having a substantially opaque peripheral portion arranged to guide a longitudinal photographic film thereon as the nlm is advanced.- a light source positioned on one side of the periphery of the member arranged to direct light rays onto one side off" the illm While in contact with the member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures formed in the opaque portion arranged to pass the light rays therethrough and through the nlm, and a light sensitive cell arranged on the other side of the film having the light receiving opening therein exposed to the apertures for receiving the light rays therethrough from the source.

9. The combination with apparatus arranged to advance a photographic film having a plurality of transversely spaced sound controlling tracks formed thereon, each track being arranged to effect operation of a sound producing instrumentality correlated thereto, of means associated with each track for automatically rendering the instrumentality correlated thereto eifective to produce sound as the film is advanced, and electrically responsive selector means for electrically rendering a selected instrumentality eiective to produce sound simultaneously with cancelling the operation of the automatically selected operating instrumentality, the electrically selected instrumentality being rendered operative independently of the automatic means.

10. The combination with apparatus arranged to advance a photographic film having a plurality of transversely spaced sound controlling tracks thereon, each track being arranged to eiect operation of a sound producing instrumentality correlated thereto, of means assoclated with each track for automatically rendering the instrumentality correlated thereto effective to produce sound as the iilm is advanced, and electrically responsive selector means for electrically rendering a selected instrumentality operative to produce sound independently of the automatic means.

11. The combination with exhibition apparatus for advancing a motion picture nlm having a plurality of scenes o! diilering character recorded thereon for exhibition by the apparatus and a plurality of sound producing instrumentalities arranged to produce differing characters of sound for accompaniment to the exhibition ci the differing scenes, of sound volume control means associated with the instrumentalities arranged to fade the sound in as an instrumentality is rendered operative to produce sound and fade the sound out as the operation thereof is cancelled, control apparatus associated with the exhibition apparatus, means associated with the lm controlling the control apparatus for effecting operation ofa selected instrumentality as a scene is initially exhibited by the exhibition apparatus and cancelling the operation thereof as the scene is terminatedyand means responsive to the control apparatus for rendering the sound volume control means eilective to fade in the sound simultaneously with rendering the instrumentality operative and fading out the sound upon cancelling the operation thereof.

12. Motion picture film exhibition apparatus l arranged to exhibit motion picture action scenes as the film is advanced, a plurality of sound producing instrumentalities arranged to produce sound to the accompaniment oi the exhibited action scenes, control apparatus, means associated with the nim controlling the control apparatus arranged to automatically initiate and cancel the operation of a selected instrumentality, and means operated at will arranged to selectively effect operation of an inactiveA instrumentality independently of the automatic means and means responsive thereto Iorautomatically cancelling the operation of thev active instrumentality without ailecting subsequent control of the last named instrumentality by the film apparatus."

13. Motion picture nlm exhibiting apparatus arranged to exhibit action scenes as the iilm is advanced, a plurality of sound producing instrumentalities arranged to produce sound to the accompaniment of the action scenes, control apparatus, means associated with the film controlling the control apparatus arranged to automatically ellect operation of a selected instrumentality to produce sound to the accompaniment of the exhibited scene, and means operated at will arranged to selectively effect operation ofl an in-operative instrumentality and means responsive thereto for automatically cancelling the operation of the active instrumentality independently of the automatic means.

14. Inicombination with a motion picture projector and a motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having stations thereon arranged to control the operation of a musical instrument for supplying incidental music during the exhibition thereof, of means controlled by the stations for controlling the operation of the instrument, means for controlling the volume of sound produced by the instrument arranged in one position to affect the instrument to render a minimum volume of audible sound to an audience and in another position a maximum volume of audible sound, and means controlled by the instrument control means for effecting movement of the volume control means from one position to thev other.

15. In combination with a motion picture prolector and a motion picture lm arranged to be ranged to control the operation of a musical instrument for supplying incidental music during the exhibitionthereof, of means controlled by the stations for controlling the operation of the instrument, means for controlling the volume of sound produced by the instrument arranged in one position to affect the instrument to render a minimum volume of audible sound to an audience and in another position a maximum volume of audible sound, and means controlled by the' in'- strument control means for restraining a slow movement of the volume control means from one position to the other whereby a fade-in effect of the sound will be produced as the volume control means is slowly actuated from the minimum to maximum volume position and a fade-out effect will be produced as the volume control means is slowly actuated from the maximum to minimum volume position;

16. In combination with a motion -picture projector and a motion picture-film arranged to be exhibited thereby having stations thereon arranged to control the operation of a musical instrument for supplying incidental music during the exhibition thereof, of means controlled by the stations for controlling the operation of the instrument, means for controlling the volume of sound produced by the instrument arranged in one position to affect the instrument to render a minimum volume of audible sound to an audience and in another position a maximum volume of audible sound, means vcontrolled by the instrument control means for effecting movement of the volume control means 'from one position to the other, and means actuated by the volume control movement means for restraining va slow movement thereof whereby a fade-in effect of the sound will be produced as the volume control means is moved from the minimum to the maximum volume position and a fade-out effect will be produced as the volume control means is moved from the maximum to the minimum volume position.

17. In combination with a'motion picture projector and a motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having stations thereon arranged to control the operation of a musical instrument for supplying incidental music during` sound is produced subsequent'to effecting operation of the instrument to produce the sound.

18. In combination with a motion pictureprojector and a motion picture lm arranged to be exhibited thereby having stations thereon arranged to control 'the operation of a musical instrument for supplying incidental music during the exhibition thereof, of means controlled -by the stations for momentarily controlling the` instrument, means controlled by the instrument control means for effecting operation of the instrument, and means normally ineffective to effect operation of the instrument arranged' to be renderedv effective'to maintain continuous operation thereof independently of the instrument I control means. l

19. In combination with a motion picture projector and a motion picture nlm arranged to be exhibited thereby having a plurality of transversely spaced tracks thereon each track having a plurality of longitudinally spaced control stations formed thereonand a plurality of musical instruments each arranged to be controlled by the stations of a predetermined track, of means controlled by the stations of each track for effecting control -of the instrument correlated therewith, means controlled by the instrument control means for effecting operation of the instrument, and means normally rendering the instrument control means effective to selectively control` all the instruments arranged to annui the control thereby upon rendering theselected instrument operative by the instrument control means whereby a false initial operation Aof another instrument cannot be effected while the selectedv trolled by the stations for momentarily con-v trolling the instrument, means controlled by the instrument control means for affecting operation of the instrument, means normally ineffective to effect operation of the instrument arranged to be rendered effective to maintain a continuousoperation thereof independently of the instrument control means, and means controlled' by the stations for annulling the control of the instrument by the last named means whereby the instrument may again be `rendered inoperative.'

21. In combination with a motion picture projector and a motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having a plurality of transversely spaced tracks thereon each track having 4a plurality of longitudinally spaced control `sta- 1 tions formed thereon for controlling a musicalv instrument correlated thereto certain tracks arranged to selectively control their correlated instruments and other tracks independently control their correlated instruments, of means controlled by the stations of the selective tracks for selectively controlling the instruments correlated thereto whereby only one instrument at a time may be rendered operative to produce sound,

and means controlled by the stations of the independent tracks for effecting operation -of one or more of the correlated independent instruments controlled thereby simultaneously with the operation of a selected instrument.

22. In combination with a motion picture projf jector and a motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having a plurality of transversely spaced tracks thereon each track having a plurality of longitudinally spaced control stations formed thereon for controlling a musical instrument correlated thereto` of means controlled by the stations for momentarily effecting operation of the instrument and means controlled by the instrument 'operating means for rendering continuous operation thereof for a fixed interval of time and thereafter cancelling the operation thereof independently of the control thereof affected by the instrument control means.

23.' In combination with a motion picture projector and a motion` picture film arranged to be eration thereof is effected, and means renderedk effective by effecting operation of the selective means for annulling operation of all instruments upon inadvertently initially simultaneously effecting operation of a plurality of instruments by the instrument control means.

24. In combination with a motion picture projector and a motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having a plurality of transversely spaced tracks thereon each track having a plurality of longitudinally spaced control stations formed thereon for controlling a musical instrument correlated thereto, of means controlled by the stations of each track for automatically effecting operation of the instrument correlated thereto, manually operated means for effecting operation of a selected instrument independently of the automatic operating means, and means automatically rendering the manually selected instruments effective to continue operating independently ofthe manually operated means.

25. In combination with a motion picture projector and a motion picture nlm arranged tobe exhibited thereby having a plurality of transversely spaced tracks thereon each track having a plurality of longitudinally spaced control stations formed thereon for controlling a musicalv instrument correlated thereto, of means controlled by the stations of certain tracks for automatically effecting operation of the correlated instruments, means controlled by the stations of other tracks for automatically-effecting cancellation of operation of any operative instrument, and manually operated means for effecting cancellation of any operative instrument independently of the automatic control means.

26. In combination with a motion picture pro jector and a motion picture film having a plu` rality of differing scenes thereon requiring differing classes of incidental music to be accompanied therewith, and a .plurality of transversely spaced tracks on the film, each track but one representing a particular class of scene thereon, of a plurality of musical instruments, each instrument arranged to be correlatively controlled by each track and producing a class .of music corre'- sponding to the scene and representative track whereof it is controlled, means correlatively controlled by the remaining track arranged to cancel the operation of any one of the instruments when active, means positioned on the film at the entrance end of each scene and only on the particular track representing the scene to be exhibited for effecting operation of the instrument correlated therewith producing the class of music adapted thereto, and means positioned on the film` at the exit end of each scene and only on the cancelling track for effecting cancellation of the operation of the active instrument at the end of each scene whereby the particular class of music required for the ensuing scene will be similarly initiated as the exhibition thereof is executed.

, 27. In combination with a motion picture proresenting a particular class of scenes thereon, of a plurality of musical instruments, each instrument arranged to be correlatively controlled by' each track and producing a class of music corresponding to the scene and representative track whereof it is controlled, means for effecting independent operation of each instrument, means correlatively controlled by the remaining track arranged to cancel the operation of any one of the J for rendering the cancelling means effective tov cancel the operation of the active instrument at the end of each scene whereby the particular class of music required for the ensuing scene will be similarly initiated as the exhibition thereof by the projector is executed. I

28. In combination with a motion picture projector, motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having Aa plurality of transversely spaced tracks thereon each track having a plurality of longitudinally spaced control stations formed thereon and a plurality of musical instruments each arranged to be controlled by the stations of a correlated track, of means supported by the projector for guiding the film whereby the stations of each track are arranged to control the instrument correlated thereto, means supported thereby affected by the stations of each strument operative to produce sound, and means also supported by the guiding means affected byv the station of the remaining track for annulling the operation of any one or all of the operative instruments.

29. In combination with a motion picture projector, a motion picture film arranged to be exhibitedtherein having a plurality of differing scenes thereon requiring differing classes of incidental music to be accompanied therewith, a plurality of transversely spaced tracks on the nlm each track representing a particular class of scenes thereon and a plurality of musical instruments each instrument correlated to a predetermined track and producing the class of music adapted to the scenes representative thereof, of means for controlling the operation of each instrument, control stations positioned on the film at the entrance end of each scene and only on the particular track representative thereof for rendering the instrument operating control means effective whereby the correlated instrument will produce harmonious incidental music during the exhibition of the scene by the projector, sound volume control means controlling the volume of the musical sound produced by the instrument normally positioned to effect a minimum volume f sound produced thereby upon initial operation thereof, and means controlled by the instrument operating control means for rendering the volume control means effective to increase the volume from minimum to maximum 'whereby a fade-in effect of the incidental music will be effectedl as the scene correlated thereto is initially exhibited by the projector.

30. In combination with a motion picture projector, a motion picture film arranged to be exhibited thereby having a plurality of differing scenes thereon requiring differing classes of incidental music to be accompanied therewith, a plurality of transversely spaced tracks on the nlm each track but one representing a particular class of scenes thereon and a plurality of musical in- 4 struments each instrument correlated to a predetermined track and producing the class of music adapted to the scenes representative thereof, of means for controlling the operation of each instrument, control stations positioned on the iilm at the entrance end of each scene and onlyon the particular track representative thereof for rendering the instrument operating control means eiective whereby the correlated instrument will produce harmonious music during the exhibition of the scene by the projector, control stations positioned on the lm at the exit end of every scene to which incidental music is accompanied and only on the remaining track for cancelling the operation of an active instrument, sound volume control means for controlling the volume of musical sound produced by the instrumentnormally positioned to effect a minimum volume of sound to be produced thereby upon initial operation thereof arranged to increase the volume from minimum to maximum while the instru-` rment is in operation and decrease the volume from maximum to minimum as cancellation of operation thereof is effected, means controlled by the instrument operating control means for initially eifecting operation of the instrument and rendering the volume control means eiective to increase the volume of the music from minimum to maximum whereby a fade-in eiect thereof will be eil'ected as the scene correlated thereto is initially exhibited by the projector, and means controlled by the cancelling stations for cancelling the operation of the active instrument whereby a fade-out eifect of the music will occur upon the termination of the exhibition of the correlated scene by the projector.

OSCAR A. ROSS. 

